CID told to file charge sheet against Nithyananda

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to file a charge sheet against controversial godman Nithyananda.

Justice Arali Nagaraj gave the direction when he was hearing a petition by Nithyananda for quashing the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him and all further proceedings.

In his petition, Nithyananda said he is in no way involved in an illegal activity and that the cases filed against him were at the behest of certain vested interests. He said the Bidadi police had blindly registered an FIR after the Chennai police transferred a complaint against him to them.

He said in Chennai his former driver Lenin had lodged a complaint against him. The Chennai police, he said, had transferred the case to Bidadi as the place of occurrence of the alleged crime was in Karnataka.

After the Bidadi police registered a case, it was transferred to the CID. Till date, the CID had not materials against him. He urged the court to quash the FIR and further proceedings.

Justice Arali Nagaraj asked the CID to file the charge sheet and adjourned further hearing of the case.

Petition

For the first time in several years, a former Minister has petitioned the Karnataka High court against the acquisition of his land for the contentious Bangalore-Mysore expressway project.

The former Minister T. John, in his petition, alleged that Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), which is executing the expressway project had acquired his land at Gottigere without paying compensation.

Mr. John said after a resort at Gottigere was demolished to make way for the project, NICE had acquired part of his land, saying that it is needed to complete the road work.

He said he had so far not been paid compensation for the land acquired. He urged the court to ensure that compensation is paid for the land acquired.

Justice Rammohan Reddy ordered issue of notices to the State and NICE and adjourned further hearing of the case.

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